Higher molecular alcohols



Patented Dot. 4, 1938 PATENT- OFFICE HIGHER MOLECULAR ALCOHOLS Heinrich Bertsch, Chemnitz, Germany, assignor to American Hyalsol Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware ,No Drawing. Application December 3, 1935, Se-

rial No. 52,701. In Germany August 18, 1928 32 Claims.

This invention relates to the processing and finishing of natural and synthetic fibers, and to the improvement of the softening, spreading, or lubricating properties of various compositions and materials hereinafter described more in detail.

For some of the purposes for which the substances of the presentinvention are employed, it has heretofore been proposed to use various waxes and greases, but these substances in general have one or more of'the objections that upon aging they become rancid, possess an objectionable odor, discolor the material or have a sticky feel, or do not accomplish their intended result with a sumcient degree of success.

The principal object of this invention is to provide industry, more particularly the textile, leather and allied branches of industry, with an exceedingly effective class of novel softening agents and smoothing media, which donot possess any 20 of the above mentioned objections.

It has been found that the higher aliphatic alcohols, or alcohols corresponding to higher fatty or'oily acids, such for example as stearyl and oleyl alcohols have in a high degree the property of rendering textile fibres, inparticular soft and pliable. For this purpose the fibres are treated either with solutions of the alcohols in any desired organic solvent, for instance benzine, turpentine, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, pyridine or the like, or with aqueous emulsions of said alcohols. For producing such emulsions use may and are, moreoveffree from odor and insensitive 40 to the effects of water. Such properties are particularly desirable in the greasing of crude fibres, in the sizing of yarns before weaving and finally in the dressing of the finished fabric. The attainment of a good soft effect is similarly important for W001, cotton, silk and artificial silk and is particularly important for the last named. The alcohols corresponding to the higher fatty acids give particularly good results in the reviving and sizing of artificial silk. They are very effective in increasing the smoothness and fiexibility of yarns before weaving or fabrics after weaving, in imparting a good gloss but soft texture to calendered fabrics, in giving to cotton a silky feel, in increasing the flexibility of leather, and in imparting a gloss to furs.

Apart from the textile and leather industries, A the alcohols of the higher fatty acids may be employed as constituents of other preparations for impregnating purposes of all kinds where it is important to obtain softness and smoothness in the 5 objects treated, thus as additions to shoe-creams and polishing waxes. J

As they are completely neutral substances the alcohols are also valuable as constituents of pigment color creams and of preparations for the 10 working or superficial treatment of metals, in which latter case the alcohol for example, oleyl alcohol is mixed with lubricating oil or grease in proportions depending upon the particular treatment for which the preparation is intended.

The higher molecular aliphatic alcohols within the broadest scope of the present invention comprisethose having more than 8 carbon atoms and in particular those having from '9 to 22 carbon atoms. Where the finishing of fibers is concerned, those alcohols having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms give thebest results.

The alcohols finding most frequent use in the processes herein disclosed are decyl, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl, oleyl, ricinoleyl and com- 25 mercial mixtures of stearyl with'cetyl and decyl with lauryl alcohols. Thus it will be observed that unsaturated as well as saturated higher aliphatic alcohols may be employed.

By a proper treatment with these alcohols the properties of silk, artificial silk, cotton, mercerized cotton, woolens, linen goods, leather, furs and other fibers whether dyed or not are improved in one or more ways. Where artificial silk is to be treated, the fabric may be impregnated with the alcohol, or the alcohol may be introduced into the raw materials or into the silk bath before spinning or into the fiber or the thread after it is formed. Under any of these procedures, a softness and smoothness is imparted to the silk.

Example 1 Stearyl alcohol is molded into small blocks and l is positioned such that artificial silk thread is contacted therewith while being wound upon the spools with the aid of a suitable thread-guide in theus'ual manner. The thread is thereby superficially coated with the stearyl alcohol and ren- "dered smooth and flexible. The properties of artificial silk are substantially improved especially '50 for weaving operations.

It is surprising that silk thread coated in this manner with stearyl alcohol alone, or instead with mixtures of such alcohol with paraflin or wax, can later be freed of its coating by washing much Example 3 2 kg. of-technical cetyl alcohol, iodine number 20, are dissolved in 40 litres of carbon tetrachloride. Mixed fabrics, for example such as are used for linings, made'out of artificial silk and mercerized cotton, are treated with this solution for a short time on a suitable impregnating machine. After the superfluous solvent has been removed by suction and warm calendering, goods are obtained having an excellent finish. They show a good gloss, great softness and do not later become roughon account or the high smoothness imparted to them.

Example 4 One part of oleyl alcohol, iodine number 82, is added to 2 parts of concentrated Turkey red oil containing about 70% total fat content, thereby forming a white mass. A water solution containing 9 g. of the mass per litre is then prepared. Woolen tricot goods are treated with this emulsion for a short time'after which they are cen-' trifuged, dried and calendered. The goods prepared in this way are very smooth and possess a full and soft feel.

Example 5 One kg. of technical stearyl ammonium sulfate is dissolved in 23 litres of boiling water. 9 kg. of a commercial mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols are mixed with the hot solution by stirring. The homogenous paste obtained by this process constitutes an excellent finishing agent for artificial silk and textiles of all kinds.

A solution is prepared with hot water, containing 2 g. of paste per litre. Raw artificial silk in hanks is treated with this solution at -60 C. by a sprinkling device. The artificial silk thread after finishing in the usual manner is very smoothand flexible which makes it suitable particularly for further treatment. The threads also are soft and free of stickiness. The artificial silk does not turn yellow nor does the finishing agent become rancid, even after long storage.

Example 6 One kg. of the paste prepared according to example 5 from stearyl ammonium sulfate as an emulsifier and commercial cetyl or stearyl alcohol mixture, is dissolved by boiling with about 20 litres of water and later adding 180 additional litres. With this emulsion linen goods are treated on the foulard at about 40 C. The dried and mangled goods have a fine smoothness and flexibility. .Also creasing is favorably influenced by this treatment. The imparted finish is unchanged by storage.

A solution of'substantially the same quality can be obtained by partially sulfonating or sulfating a commercial mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols and neutralizing to form water soluble salts. In this case, the sulfated salts of the alcohols serve as the emulsifier of the unchanged alcohols.

Emmple Seven kg. of technical lauryl alcohol are mixed with 3 kg. of a liquid emulsifier consisting of 1.8 kg. of gum arabic, 0.15 kg. of technical lauryl sodium sulfate, 0.3 kg. of the triethanolamine salt of stearic acid and 0.75 kg. of water. The

The concentrated paste prepared according to Example 7 from commercial lauryl alcohol and an emulsifier is diluted with 3 parts of water;

The emulsion thus obtained is added by means of plush or brush to the flesh-side or to grain side or to both sides of a vegetable tanned leather. The leather thus obtained after drying possesses a very good crackling effect, as is desired for morocco leather and portfolio leather.

In this way it is even possible to produce an excellent crackling eflect on vegetable tanned East India sheepskins.

Example 9 20 kg. of commercial cetyl alcohol are melted with 80 kg. of carnauba wax. The composition obtained is used for the hot greasing of technical leather. The greasing temperature can be kept relatively low and as a result the finished leather receivesan increased flexibility of the grain.

Example 10 Four hundred lower fatty alcohols, chiefly consisting of decyl and lauryl alcohols are dissolved in 1600 g. of trichlorethylene and then intimately mixed with about 50 kg. of moistened shavings. The shavings are employed in the usual manner for treating furs whereby the latter are slightly greased and receive an excellent gloss.

The alcohol treatment of textiles in accordance with the present invention should not be confused with wax treatments heretofore employed some of which waxes contain a small percentage of alcohol. The ester components of the wax impart objectionable properties which the alcohols alone do not. Furthermore, those extremely high molecular alcohols contained in certain waxes are in general not as satisfactory as the lower alcohols, thatis, those having from 9 to 22 carbon atoms. I

The present invention is independent of the method by which the alcohols are obtained. Satisfactory methods include the sodium and alcohol method of reduction of lower alkyl esters of higher fatty acids, the catalytic hydrogenation of higher fatty acid compounds with copper, for example, as a catalyst, the saponiflcation and distillation of certain liquid waxes or the oxidation of hydrocarbons of suitable molecular weight. For most purposes the normal primary alcohols as produced by the first three methods described are preferred. Secondary alcohols as produced by the fourth method, if properly purified are suitable for some of the uses described herein.

This application is a. continuation in part of g. of a commercial mixture of applicants copending application, Serial No. 382,076, filed July 29, 1929.

It shouldbe understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details and examples herein given but that it includes all equivalent materials coming within the scope of the broad descriptive terms employed in the disclosure and in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The process of improving the softness and smoothness of textile materials comprising applying to such materials an agent consisting essentiaily of a higher aliphatic alcohol having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms.

2. An agent for the treatment of fibrous materials to render them smooth, soft or lustrous comprising a higher aliphatic alcohol having from i 9 to 22 carbon atoms and a dispersing medium.

3. An agent for the treatment of fibrous materials to improve their qualities as smoothness, softness or luster comprising a normal primary higher aliphatic alcohol having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms dispersed in an organic solvent of said alcohol.

4. An agent for improving the smoothness, softness or lubricating property of fibrous materials comprising a wax-free higher aliphatic alcohol having at least 9 carbon atoms.

5. The process of rendering fibrous materials smooth and pliable, comprising applying to said material a neutral softening and smoothening agent consisting of a higher aliphatic alcohol.

6. The process of rendering fibrous materials smooth and pliable, comprising applying to said material a neutral softening and smoothing agent consisting of a higher aliphatic alcohol, said agent being dispersed in a liquid dispersing medium.

7. The process of rendering fibrous materials smooth and pliable, comprising applying to such material a composition containing a softening and smoothing agent consisting of an alcohol correspoding to a higher fatty acid and a dispersing liquid and removing the dispersing liquid thereby leaving said alcohol deposited on and in said fibrous material.

.8. A composition for the treatment of fibrous materials to render them smooth, soft or lustrous comprising a softening and smoothing agent consisting of higher aliphatic alcohols, and a dispersing medium.

9. The composition as described in claim 8 wherein the dispersing medium is an organic solvent.

10. The composition as described in claim 8 wherein the dispersing medium is water containing a dispersing agent.

an alcohol corresponding to a higher aliphatic acid.

14. The method of processing and finishing fiber material which comprises applying stearyl alcohol thereto.

15. The process of treating artificial silk for sizing or reviving the same comprising treating the silk with a higher aliphatic alcohol having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms.

16. The process of increasing the softness and smoothness of artificial silk comprising applying thereto a higher aliphatic alcohol having from 9 to 22 carbon atoms.

1'7. A textile material impregnated with a waxfree higher aliphatic alcohol.

18. Artificial silk fibers having their softness and smoothnessincreased by the presence of a wax-free higher aliphatic alcohol.

19. A textile material impregnated with a water insoluble fatty alcohol.

20. Artificial silk threads impregnated with a water insoluble fatty alcohol.

21. Artificial silk threads impregnated with octadecyl alcohol.

22. Artificial silk threads impregnated with octadecenyl alcohol.

23. Artificial silk fibers having their softness and smoothness increased by the presence of a softening and smoothing agent consisting of essentially only a higher aliphatic alcohol.

24. A textile material having its softness and pliability and insensitivity to the effects of water' increased by the presence of an alcohol corresponding to a higher fatty acid in its fibers.

25. Artificial silk fibers containing a softening and pliability imparting agent consisting of a normal primary monohydric higher aliphatic alcohol.

26. Artificial silk threads containing oleyl alcohol.

27. The process of imparting softness and smoothness to fibrous materials which comprises applying thereto a higher molecular aliphatic alcohol having from 9-22 carbon atoms dispersed in a solution of a sulfonated organic dispersion agent.

28. The method of greasing and imparting a gloss to the hair of animal skins which comprises treating the hair of animal skins with a higher aliphatic alcohol having from 9 to 22 carbon atoms and a dispersing medium.

29. The process of improving the surface smoothness and softness of textiles, leather. furs and other fibers which comprises applyin to such materials a smoothening and softening agent consisting of a higher aliphatic alcohol.

30. The process of improving the properties of textiles, leather, furs and other fibers comprisin applying to such materials a higher aliphatic alcohol having from 9 to 22 carbon atoms.

31. Surface treating preparations containing agents for softening, smoothening or dispersion comprising higher aliphatic alcohols having at least 9 carbon atoms in the molecules.

32. Agents for softening, smoothening or dispersion insurface treating preparation for industrial purposes comprising higher aliphatic alcohols containing from 9 to 22 carbon atoms.

HEINRICHBIRTSOH. I. 

